Eating Las Vegas: Hot New Restaurants On and Off the Strip

As if you needed another excuse hit up Sin City.

The smoky red-booth steakhouse and the free-buffet-with-slot play mentality of the Las Vegas dining scene have officially been filed under “days of yore.” The age of the celebrity chef has reached its peak.

Now, the city where you can satiate any culinary desire 24 hours a day is refocusing on the next generation of restaurant imports, Strip defectors and off-the-beaten-path local eateries serving genuinely good food. We've rounded up the best new restaurants so you'll be ready for your next Vegas adventure.

Also opened in October, Alain Ducasse’s Rivea, sister restaurant to Rivea Saint-Tropez and London and atop the Delano Hotel, launched with a cocktail program created by the same team behind Los Angeles' The Normandie Club.3940 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV

Brian Malarkey will bring a bit of the beach to the desert when his ocean-to-table concept Herringbone debuts at Aria on Dec. 28. Minka Kelly, Mindy Kaling, Spike Lee and Bella Thorne have been known to favor this spot, opening in partnership with nightclub giant Hakkasan Group.3730 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV

Clique

The Cosmopolitan will get four new places to eat, starting in December with the opening of Clique, a lounge where tableside mixology carts replace bottle service and gourmet drinking snacks will be served. This spot signifies a return to the Strip for Light Group founder Andy Masi. In 2016, international Japanese restaurant brand Zuma, Los Angeles’ Eggslut and Tao Group’s Beauty & Essex will join the resort’s restaurant roster.3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV

OFF-THE-STRIP GEMS

Other Mama

Morimoto alum Dan Krohmer’s Other Mama is one of the hottest restaurants in Las Vegas right now, thanks to a raw-bar concept of fresh tartares, ceviches, crudos, oysters and criss-cut french fries.3655 S. Durango Drive #6, Las Vegas, NV

Flock & Fowl

Robuchon and Comme Ca alum Sheridan Su has another hit on his hands with the lunch-only Hainanese chicken rice shop Flock & Fowl. His first restaurant, Fat Choy, inside Eureka Casino, continues to be regarded as one of the best diners in town.380 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV

Salute

Jumping from Miami’s Bianca Restaurant in the Delano, chef Luciano Sautto takes the helm at Salute at Red Rock Resort and Casino on the West side of Las Vegas. The restaurant is inspired by classic southern Italian trattorias.11011 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV

Johnny Church, a staple in the kitchen at several big-name chef eateries such as Michael Mina and Charlie Palmer, brings his expertise to Artisanal Foods Café, open only for lunch. Artisanal Foods is known as the go-to spot for hard-to-find Epicurean products, and now Church’s innovative menu highlights those offerings.2053 Pama Lane, Las Vegas, NV

Piero's

Las Vegas’ version of Dan Tana’s, Piero’s is as old school as it gets, having served as one of the locations for the iconic film Casino and celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Pia Zadora stages her lounge show Pia’s Place in the bar. UFC’s Dana White, Nicolas Cage, Bette Midler, Sharon Stone and Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak are all fans.355 Convention Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV